HOUSTON – With the season in full swing, fans are already in the stands at Reckling Park for Rice baseball, but at a limited capacity. While other outdoor sporting events for Rice have also had limited capacity, indoor events have had no fans and for now, it will stay that way. Professional teams like the Houston Astros sent a letter to season ticket holders saying they’re all welcomed back with different seating options. “We are continuing our limited capacity with social distancing,” said Euletha Wade, the Assistant Vice President of Facilities for Prairie View A & M University. University of Houston, Texas Southern University, the Houston Dynamo and Dash are also limiting fan capacity to between 25% to 30%.

Prairie View A & M University was a big winner toward the end of 2020 when it was awarded 50 million dollars by the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Happy days for Houston Area nonprofits50 million dollars-Prairie View A & M University18 million dollars-YMCA of Greater Houston15 million dollars-Goodwill Industries Houston7 million dollars-Easter Seals of Greater Houston? Meals on Wheels Montgomery CountyYMCA of Greater HoustonAfter an aggressive pivot on priorities because of the pandemic, the YMCA of Greater Houston now has a much needed cushion for programs. Steve Lufburrow is the President and CEO and recounts his thoughts when told of his 15 million dollar award. More Information:Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., President, Prairie View A & M University· Website: https://www.pvamu.edu/· Twitter: @PVAMUStephen Ives, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston· Website: https://www.ymcahouston.org/· Twitter: @YMCAHoustonSteve Lufburrow, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries Houston· Website: https://www.goodwillhouston.org· Twitter: @goodwillhoustonElise Hough, CEO Easter Seals of Greater Houston· Website: https://www.eastersealshouston.org/· Twitter: @eastersealshouSummer Day, President & CEO Meals on Wheels Montgomery County· Website: https://www.mowmc.org/· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mealsonwheelsmc/?ref=hl

Center for Race and Justice proposed for Prairie View A & M University (KPRC)THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CENTER FOR RACE AND JUSTICE:1-PVAMU President Dr. Ruth Simmons came up with the idea in the wake of the racial unrest after the George Floyd killing. 2-Goal will be to address issues of race and to expose students to cutting edge research and activists whove lived a life of uplifting their communities. 3-One million dollar personal contribution was made by Charles Butt, Chairman of H-E-B to kick start the funding for the center to be named after Dr. Ruth Simmons. Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., President of Prairie View A & M University, says the idea behind the center is to address issues and work to find solutions to race related problems that continue to exist in this country. With funding underway and curriculum being developed she says all thats needed now is approval from the Texas A & M University System board of regents.